Arthur’s Pass Outdoor Education Centre is an outdoor and environmental education centre for primary and secondary school students, providing experiential learning through engaging, effective and enjoyable outdoor activities and well cared for accommodation.
Set in the heart of the 113,000-hectare Arthur’s Pass National Park, this natural alpine environment serves as our classroom for all our learning experiences. Two hours from Christchurch, access by road or add extra value to your learning experience by using the Trans Alpine.
Governed and operated by the Y Christchurch, we believe by fostering appreciation of the natural world and history of the Arthur’s Pass area, we hope to create positive attitudes towards NZ’s natural environment with outdoor experiences designed around your students needs.
The Arthur’s Pass Outdoor Education Centre is a truly unique setting. The village itself was founded after the discovery of a route connecting the east to the west coast, used initially to accommodate the expansion related to the gold boom in the 1860’s. The Pass holds a host of historic interests to explore, ranging from the timeworn seasonal Maori migration route to the tracks of the primary European exploration of interior New Zealand.
If you drive in either direction there are vastly different ecosystem’s to explore; from the lush temperate rainforests of the West Coast to the dry open riverbeds of the Canterbury plains, we have it all at our fingertips.
Our goal is to make learning an interactive and immersive experience that will stay with the students for years to come.
Many school groups come to Arthur’s Pass to enjoy a wide range of adventure based activities, learn about ecosystems and discover the Southern Alps with an experienced instructor whose expertise lies predominantly teaching environmental education.
Click here for more information about what we offer school groups
Corporate and community groups can utilise Y Arthur’s Pass for a conference, retreat or team building experience that offers something quite different to an urban location.
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Y Arthur’s Pass offers bunk style accommodation for up to 45 guests, with a full commercial kitchen, drying room and communal areas.
Click here for more information on our Facilities
From outdoor skills like shelter building, river crossing and map reading, to environmental learning including walks/hikes, DOC visits, sensory trail and discovering flora & fauna.
Click here to see some of our activities
P 03 318 9249 E apoec@ymcachch.org.nz
